LINCOLN, Neb. – October is Nebraska Reptile Month. By a proclamation from Gov. Pete Ricketts, Nebraska is recognizing the month as Nebraska Reptile Awareness Month.
Reptiles benefit Nebraska by maintaining rodent and insect populations, serving as biological indicators of ecosystem health, and are predator and prey and aid in energy flow in a variety of habitats.
The following are a few events in October to celebrate the proclamation:
Nebraska Reptile Month K-12 Art Contest continues
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is hosting the Nebraska Reptile Month K-12 Art Contest, in which young artists in those grades may submit their original artwork of a Nebraska native reptile.
Artists may submit their work at outdoornebraska.gov/reptileart through Oct. 18. Each student who submits a photo of artwork will receive reptile swag.
Winners from each grade level, selected by Game and Parks staff, will be showcased at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Hardin Hall on National Reptile Awareness Day, Oct. 21.
To learn more about Nebraska’s native reptile species, or for inspiration for artwork, visit outdoornebraska.org/reptiles. For more information, email monica.macoubrie@nebraska.gov.
Snacks and Facts virtual series to discuss reptiles
Learn about reptiles over your lunch hour. Snacks and Facts is a virtual learning series from 12:30-1:20 p.m. every Tuesday in October
Since October is Nebraska Reptile Month, Game and Parks will discuss an array of topics about the state’s native reptile species. The schedule and topics: Oct. 12 – Reptile defenses; Oct. 19 – Reptile communication; Oct. 26 – Reptile conservation.
Registration is required. Get the link by visiting the calendar event listing at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov. Email monica.macoubrie@nebraska.gov for more information.
Reptile Craft Night at Cosmic Eye Brewing is Oct. 13
Game and Parks, in celebration of Nebraska Reptile Month, is co-hosting Reptile Craft Night at Cosmic Eye Brewing Company in Lincoln at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 13.
The first 100 participants, with a purchase from Cosmic Eye, may paint a wooden snake, then enter them in the Reptile Month Art Contest.
Game and Parks will have a few live snakes on hand from which participants can gain inspiration for their work.
Email monica.macoubrie@nebraska.gov for more information.
Nebraska Nature Nerd Night to discuss venomous snakes
Venom is one of nature’s most powerful weapons and is found across the animal world. Join Nebraska Nature Nerd Night at 7 p.m. Oct. 19 for a virtual chat with herpetologists Dennis Ferraro and Chris Visser about venomous snakes.
Learn how these snakes got their venom, how venom works, and how venom can be useful for humans in the field of medicine.
The event is part of the monthly Nebraska Nature Nerd Night virtual series for curious adults. These webinars, on the third Tuesday of each month, explore the secrets and science of nature through storytelling and conversation.
Registration is required. See the calendar event entry at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov for the registration link or more information. Questions for the guest may be submitted during registration.
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